--- title: Some People Are So Salty About Remote Work description: Explore the heated debate over return-to-office mandates and the distinct perspectives people hold about remote work versus traditional office settings. image: https://productivitynerd.consulting/hubfs/Angry%20Frustrated/Hubspot%20Hero%20Pics%20-%20collaboration%20(1200x800).jpg --- [![productivity nerd logo stacked](https://productivitynerd.consulting/hs-fs/hubfs/Logos%20and%20Branding/productivity%20nerd%20logo-1.png?width=1920&height=1080&name=productivity%20nerd%20logo-1.png "productivity nerd logo stacked")](https://productivitynerd.consulting/) - Be More Productive - [Free Downloads](https://productivitynerd.consulting/free-downloads) - [Inefficiency Calculator](https://productivitynerd.consulting/inefficiency-calculator) - [Blog](https://productivitynerd.consulting/blog) - Events - [Delivery Ops Masterclass](https://productivitynerd.consulting/masterclass) - [SOS: 3-Day Challenge](https://productivitynerd.consulting/sos-3daychallenge) - Meet the Nerd - [Hi, I'm Jacqui](https://productivitynerd.consulting/meet-jacqui) - [Manifesto](https://productivitynerd.consulting/manifesto) - [Schedule a Call](https://www.productivitynerd.consulting/meetings/jacquimyslinski/productivitychat) - Be More Productive - [Free Downloads](https://productivitynerd.consulting/free-downloads) - [Inefficiency Calculator](https://productivitynerd.consulting/inefficiency-calculator) - [Blog](https://productivitynerd.consulting/blog) - Events - [Delivery Ops Masterclass](https://productivitynerd.consulting/masterclass) - [SOS: 3-Day Challenge](https://productivitynerd.consulting/sos-3daychallenge) - Meet the Nerd - [Hi, I'm Jacqui](https://productivitynerd.consulting/meet-jacqui) - [Manifesto](https://productivitynerd.consulting/manifesto) - [Schedule a Call](https://www.productivitynerd.consulting/meetings/jacquimyslinski/productivitychat) This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. [Delivery Ops Masterclass](https://productivitynerd.consulting/masterclass) # Some People Are So Salty About Remote Work June 24, 2025 #### THE GREAT DIVIDE OVER RETURN-TO-OFFICE My husband works for the Department of Defense, and like all federal employees, he was recently mandated back to the office five days a week. No negotiation. No hybrid. Just back to 2019 like nothing happened. The reactions I’ve observed to this return-to-office (RTO) mandate are fascinating. And let’s just say… some folks have very strong opinions. ![Business man having concerns about work](https://productivitynerd.consulting/hs-fs/hubfs/Angry%20Frustrated/Business%20man%20having%20concerns%20about%20work.jpeg?width=1000&height=665&name=Business%20man%20having%20concerns%20about%20work.jpeg) ### No negotiation. ## No hybrid. Just back to 2019 like nothing happened.   ## What I've Noticed People tend to fall into three distinct camps when it comes to RTO. Some are all for it, some are deeply against it, and some land somewhere in between. But the biggest divide isn’t necessarily about productivity or collaboration—it’s about mindset, personal experience, and maybe even a little bit of resentment. - **Group 1**: The “Get Your Ass Back to Work” Crowd - **Group 2**: The “It Depends” Camp - **Group 3**: The “I Just Pretend to Work” People   ## Group 1: ## The “Get Your Ass Back to Work” Crowd This group is made up mostly of: ✅ Older workers near retirement (who never had the option to work remotely) ✅ People in jobs that were always in-person (police officers, retail workers, nurses, etc.) Their stance? **Zero empathy. Zero flexibility. Absolute conviction.**🗣️ “It’s about damn time! Of course, you should be in the office every day. What’s wrong with companies? Remote work is lazy. Get your ass back to work!” But here’s what I wonder: 1. Do they **truly** believe every job is best done in an office? 2. Or is there just a little resentment at play? 3. Maybe a tinge of jealousy that they never got to work in pajamas and take Zoom calls from the couch?   ## Group 2: ## The “It Depends” Camp These folks **see the nuance** because they’ve actually experienced remote work. 👉 Some never want to step foot in an office again. If a job requires in-person work, it’s a dealbreaker. 👉 Some like a hybrid model—office for collaboration, home for deep work. 👉 Some miss the camaraderie of an office but still want flexibility. They don’t see this as black and white. **They understand that work isn’t about where you are—it’s about what you produce.**   ## Group 3: ## The “I Just Pretend to Work” People Ah yes, the **Slack-status magicians.** These folks have perfected the art of: ✅ Sending an email at **8 PM** just to look "always on" ✅ **Jiggling the mouse** to keep their status green ✅ Saying **"Let's circle back on this"** to buy themselves three more days Their worst nightmare? **Returning to an office where people might actually see their screen.**   ## Thoughts? So what do you think? Are people pushing for RTO because they **genuinely** believe it’s better? Or is this just “I suffered, so you should too” energy? I’d love to hear your thoughts.   ---     #### Tag: [Productivity](https://productivitynerd.consulting/blog/tag/productivity) [Project Management](https://productivitynerd.consulting/blog/tag/project-management) #### Share: - [Follow us on Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://productivitynerd.consulting/blog/salty-about-remote-work) - [Follow us on Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://productivitynerd.consulting/blog/salty-about-remote-work&text=Some%20People%20Are%20So%20Salty%20About%20Remote%20Work) - [Follow us on Linkedin](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://productivitynerd.consulting/blog/salty-about-remote-work) - [Follow us on Pinterest](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://productivitynerd.consulting/blog/salty-about-remote-work&text=Some%20People%20Are%20So%20Salty%20About%20Remote%20Workdescription=THE%20GREAT%20DIVIDE%20OVER%20RETURN-TO-OFFICE%20My%20husband%20works%20for%20the%20Department%20of%20Defense,%20and%20like%20all%20federal%20employees,%20he%20was%20recently%20mandated%20back%20to%20the[...]&media=https://45602217.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/45602217/Angry%20Frustrated/Hubspot%20Hero%20Pics%20-%20collaboration%20%281200x800%29.jpg) - [Follow us on Mail](mailto:?subject=Some%20People%20Are%20So%20Salty%20About%20Remote%20Work%20&%20body=https://productivitynerd.consulting/blog/salty-about-remote-work) [Back to Blog](https://productivitynerd.consulting/blog) ## Related Articles ## [Why Did Our SaaS Implementation Fail?](https://productivitynerd.consulting/blog/why-did-our-saas-implementation-fail) [Read More](https://productivitynerd.consulting/blog/why-did-our-saas-implementation-fail) ## [Meetings Suck, But They Don’t Have To](https://productivitynerd.consulting/blog/meetings-suck) UNPACKING THE EPIDEMIC OF UNPRODUCTIVE AND INEFFICIENT GATHERINGS Picture this: It’s Monday morning... 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